With Newton coming off ankle surgery, which cost him most of the offseason work with his new receiving corps, the Panthers want to ease their star quarterback back into action -- that means no designed runs or scrambles.

"He can't help himself because he loves to compete and he wants to win," Rivera said. "That is one of the things that is of concern -- that he'll get out there and he may see something, he may go from a three to a seven (in effort level) and the next thing you know he's out there doing his thing. That's just who he is. He's very competitive."

Newton's health is vital for the Panthers success in 2014. If he is limited in any fashion this season, then an already handicapped Panthers' offense will be even further strapped.

The quarterback, however, is just taking it a day at a time.

"I'm doing as much as I can, or as much as (head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion) is allowing me to do with my ankle, so I can be 100 percent when the time is needed," he said.

On Sunday Newton will give us our first good look at just how close he is to that 100 percent.